A new faith family, an old gospel.

Pastor Jason and his wife, Melissa, have served together in ministry since 2006. God has graciously blessed them with two sons, Hayden and Jake. Jason began full-time vocational ministry in 2005 and, in 2007, pursued a Master of Christian Education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He was licensed to the ministry in 2008 — the same year God first burdened his heart for church planting. In 2009, he entered the Pastor/Elder candidacy process with Community Bible Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was ordained as a pastor in 2011.

In 2008, under the clear leading of the Holy Spirit, the Rays were called to plant The Oaks Church in Denham Springs. After fourteen fruitful years of ministry there, God led them in 2022 — along with several faithful members of The Oaks — to plant a new church in the Watson area, now known as The Church at Magnolia Hill. Jason and Melissa are filled with joy and anticipation as they look forward to all that God will accomplish through this growing body of believers.

Pastor Keith and his wife, Casey, have served together in ministry since 2008. God has graciously blessed them with four children: a son, Elliott; a foster son, Tommy; and two daughters, Aveline and Eleanor. That same year, Keith entered full-time vocational ministry and was licensed as a Baptist minister of the Gospel. He was ordained as a pastor in 2015 and has faithfully served in various chaplaincy roles with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), as well as in multiple pastoral positions within Baptist and Baptistic Bible churches across South Louisiana for more than seventeen years.

A Master of Divinity graduate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, Keith brings both theological depth and servant-hearted experience to ministry. Though new to The Church at Magnolia Hill, Keith and Casey have shared a long-standing relationship with this fellowship since its beginning. They are eager to join in the work God is doing at The Hill and look forward with joy and anticipation to all He will continue to accomplish in and through this church within the community He has called them to serve.

Matthew and his wife, Misty, joined our team in the summer of 2022 as we began praying about the work of church planting. Married in 2004, they are the proud parents of two sons, Maddox and Micah. In 2005, Matthew followed God's call into student ministry and has faithfully served in a variety of roles since then. He has a deep passion to see the gospel transform the lives of young men and women as they mature and grow in the image of Christ. We are excited to see how God will continue to use Matthew to lead and disciple our students here at The Church at Magnolia Hill.